Early-spring conditions are not always ideal in San Francisco, which was exactly the case on Wednesday as match play got underway in the senior division of the San Francisco City Championship. Wind and rain pelted competitors at TPC Harding Park, but one tournament stalwart in particular hardly seemed fazed.

At the top of the bracket, Randy Haag took down Marshall Langfield, 6 and 5, to easily advance into the Round of 16. Haag, a four-time NCGA Player of the Year and a regular in USGA competition, is not only the defending champion in this division, but also won the senior title in 2016. He won the championship division in 1999.

The divot tells the story of the conditionsat Harding Park (Mike Benham photo)

Haag topped qualifying on Tuesday with a 5-under 67 that left him five shots ahead of the next-best player.

In addition to Haag’s large winning margin in the Round of 32 matches, Terry Foreman also got by Steve Hoyt by a 6-and-5 margin on the bottom of the bracket. Foreman is the No. 6 seed.

Jeff Britton defeated Mike Mangan, 1 up. He will face off against Jim Knoll in the Round of 16 after Knoll took down Greg O’Malley, 5 and 4, in an upset victory. Knoll was the No. 21 seed while O’Malley was the No. 12 seed.

In one of the better comeback victories of the day, Thomas Beer was 2 down on the 16th tee before winning that hole, then knocking his second shot on No. 18 to within 10 feet for a “gimmie” to send it to the 19th hole. Beer ended up winning there.

Matches will resume on March 9.

ABOUT THE San Francisco City 2019 SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

MEN'S SENIOR DIVISION $225
ENTRY
FEE INCLUDES ALL GREEN FEES.

Open to the first 110 entries received.
Participants must have an index of 9.4 or lower as of
December 1 and must have an age of 55 or older as
of the first day of the tournament. Qualifying will
consist of one 18-hole
stroke play round, from which the low 32
scores
will advance to the Men’s Senior Championship
Flight.
Individual scores will determine seeding for match
play.
There will be no refunds after entries close.
All rounds will be played at TPC Harding
Park Golf
Course.

*In the event of a playoff for match play a player
must
be present in order to retain his right to participate
in
the playoff.

ABOUT THE SAN FRANCISCO CITY
CHAMPIONSHIP
The oldest municipal tournament in the
USA.
Match
play event with scratch men's, senior, women's,
senior women's
and
open flight
divisions. Past champions include Ken
Venturi, Harvie Ward, Juli Inkster, Bob Rosburg,
George Archer, and Dorothy Delasin.
Some of the 'non winners' include Tom
Watson
and Johnny Miller. Click the 'history' tab for
more about this wonderful event.